Ideas?

I have 24 or so wooden table easels.  Nothing fancy, but they work pretty well for us.  In the past, I had a parent who bent really heavy wire, from the ceiling, and we hung them from the "hooks" when we were not using them.  It worked well, and it got them out of the way.  I am now in a new shiny art room, and wondering, are there other better, less "dangerous" ways of storing those easels when not in use?  I thought perhaps running a PVC pipe through the exposed ceiling could be sturdier, but would they "spin"?  Maybe run two pipes and hang the easel through the middle?  Anyway, I'm open to whatever ideas you have-surely there's another teacher out there who has easels that need storing.

The end of the beginning/the beginning of the end?

Depending on your point of view, I'm either ending my time in a temporary space that I called my room this year/a year of noisy messy construction, or, I'm beginning to teach the new semester in quite frankly the best art space I've ever had.  New furniture, new cabinets, new paint transformed the old library into a nice new art room, complete with a kiln room, and lockable storage, along with sinks, yes 2- one for cleaning hands, and one with a plaster trap for dumping things.  I'm a little nostalgic to have lost my old classroom of 14 years, with it's quirks, and it's "rustic charm"? But, who are we kidding, the next years teaching in this new space will bring more projects, more messes, and more fun than we were able to host in the other space.  It's not all decorated, and I still have some "settling" to do, but here's the space.  Merry Christmas to you, and here's to more great ideas out here in blog world in the new year. ( I do not know how Santa fit a whole new art room in his bag, but I'm truly glad I was a good art teacher, and he delivered)

The chair is finished

This is my final version of the painted chair for the art room.  My thought is that if more needs to be added, I will have the kiddos use paint pens to write words about how art makes them feel on the empty spots. But, for now, I'm ready to settle in and enjoy in the new semester.

New Chair- New Room

Old Chair- kinda shabby, but well loved

Fresh coat of paint (just grabbed a can from the basement)

The start of our new Story Chair

So many changes are coming to Hermitage Elementary this year.  One of which, is the new Art room, which will welcome it's first classes in the New Year.  I'll have to post pics of the new room soon-cause it is awesome!!!  But, in the meantime, I was packing up, and preparing for the move.  Against all the "New", my "Purple Chair" ( story time chair) looked shabby.  Being on Christmas Break, and on strict instruction from the hubs NOT to go in tomorrow and work, but rather to stay home and enjoy a little holiday break, I brought the chair home.  Hey, at least it keeps my hand out of the cookie jar.  Here's the before, and the "after-so-far".  Am considering having the students help in finishing it up.

Carolers

I found this on Pinterest as well, and figured, I'm packing to move to the new art room, I have a bunch of scraps, and this would be "holiday" without being over the top.  So, we had a great time making our Christmas Carolers.  Younger students worked on shapes and technique, and the older students were set free to be as detailed as they wanted.  I got a kick out of how similar the results were to the students that created them.

End of the 9 weeks

3rd Grade "Zentangle". 

2nd Grade- A Very Color Theory Christmas

3rd Grade "Zentangle"

Super Shape Sandwich-K

A Very Color Theory Christmas-2nd Grade

Can't believe I'm ending another 9 week session already.  As I am going through the art, publishing it to Artsonia, and of course, the inevitable grading of it all, I thought I'd share some highlights.  For more examples, visit my Artsonia.

Masks- 3rds grade

OK, so Dias de los Muertas was a while ago, I know.  But, due to construction, and me being gullible enough to believe the workers when they say 1 week, I did not have a kiln to fire in.  I finally packed them all up and took them to "the Grove" (thanks Mr. E) for firing.  The kids were delighted to get the chance to paint them today, and it's so close to the holidays, I am happy with anything that keeps the masses happy, and busy.  So, here are a few.

Prints

I have been working with my 4th graders on color families.  So, we broke out the watercolor cray-pas and made mono-prints.  Basically, each student made a four part series of an animal in action.  Each section was colored with a given color scheme (Hot, Cold, Primary, Secondary).  After coloring, we pulled a print from each section.  Not all turned out, but they learned the process, and we got a lotta fun ones.  On a side note, I am not completely organized, but one of my trusty 4th graders suggested that we line our prints up in order, and took over the organization process. 

New Art Room is soooo close!

View from the door- Can't wait to art it up in here!

A Glitter Drawer- I am not telling the kiddos about my stash.

Electric sockets- near the counter.  So convenient!

Anyone out there got advice on these sinks?  The trap door in the floor is for the sink's filter?

If you follow my blog, or even just check in once in awhile, you probably know that my school is undergoing a massive renovation.  It has been very difficult to teach through this, but, I kept the best attitude that I possibly could, knowing that good things were coming- especially an art room.  Until now, I've taught in a converted classroom.  It was ok, but folks, I'm living the dream now!  I have a wall- a whole wall of storage, with 2 sinks.  One for dumping, and one for hand washing.  I will have a vented kiln room, with shelving, and more cabinets for my clay and sculpture supplies, along with big drawers and dividers for my prints.  New art tables, stools, and even a couple of wardrobe type things for my other things, such as manuals, cameras and the like.  They have locks, so I can secure my more valuable things.  If I waited for the official Metro movers to do the job, they'd do it over the holidays.  All well and good, but us art teachers are resourceful, and I'm starting my move now- the more things I move, the less I have to box, and I'll be in my room sooner this way.  So, little by little, I'm just carting things down, and filling my shelves up.  This will also free the room I'm in now for the next teacher anxiously waiting to move in. 

Could not be prouder!

Fabric weaving is nothing new, although, last year, I learned to have the kids push the strips really tight, so it looks more like a rug.  Makes a world of difference. This year, I used the chipboard looms that are pre-notched.  Mrs. Cheapy here, did not want to only get one use out of them, so I taught the kids to weave in two dowel rods, and tie the ends around them.  I figured they'd try, and I'd have a bunch to do for homework.  They really amazed me, almost all of my 2nd graders tied off their own loom!  Makes me remember to challenge my students, and see how far they will reach.  Some years, I have the students make a pattern with the fabric, but this year, we looked at landscapes, and I suggested that they might try to pick sky/ground colors.  Some remembered, some didn't, and other did, but when we squished it up, the design did not translate the same.  But, it was a fun idea.